11 best coastal pubs and bars in Australia

Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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Crack out the sunglasses (and the tinnies) when you pay a visit to Australia’s top beachside pubs and bars.

Did you know: more than 85 per cent of Australians live on its coast?

All that salt air is bound to cause us to work up a thirst. And maybe (just maybe) that’s the reason why Australia has such a magnificent array of waterfront bars and pubs for us lucky types to pick from. But if your policy is less picking / more sipping, we’ve laid out our top picks of beachside bars for you to consider.

1. Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay, NSW

Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is smack-bang on what has to be one of the world’s prettiest pieces of water real estate: Sydney Harbour. Nestled in the heart of Sydney’s eastern suburbs, it has a maritime-themed beach club with enviable rooftop views, best paired with bottomless rose brunches and favourite summer dresses. When the sun comes out, popularity tends to ramp up at this well-known Sydney bar, so chop-chop with any reservations.

Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is one of the best coastal pubs in Australia
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel is one of Sydney’s most iconic pubs. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. The Imperial at Clifton, Clifton NSW

Just a few minutes from the Sea Cliff Bridge — a route that is the longer, but more scenically impressive way to start your NSW South Coast trip — you can’t fail to notice The Imperial at Clifton. A clifftop pub on the Grand Pacific Drive with ‘accidentally Wes Anderson’ vibes, The Imperial dates back to the early 1900s when it served the area’s mining community. Today at the revamped historical pub, you can sip on a watermelon cocktail while looking over the Pacific Ocean, or even order a seafood feast picnic hamper to take away for a closer inspection of the beaches nearby.

Exterior of coastal pub the Imperial at Clifton in Australia
This historical pub is the perfect spot to quench your thirst. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Tathra Hotel and Motel, Tathra, NSW

The heritage Tathra Hotel is perched up on the headland over the waters of the Sapphire Coast. It dates all the way back to 1888, and is a veritable must-stop if you’re heading to the far south coast of the state, and looking to cool down. Pull up a chair on the prettily iron-lattice deck for those magnificent views, call for a bowl of fresh prawns and one of their own Humpback Brewery tap brews, and you’ve got all the makings of a perfect sunny Saturday.

High shot of the interior of the Tathra Hotel
Cool down at the Tathra Hotel.

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4. Wye Beach Hotel, Wye River, VIC

Break up your annual Great Ocean Road pilgrimage with a bite to eat at the Wye Beach Hotel. Overlooking the surrounding town and Wye Beach itself, the pub is close to both the beach and the nearby campgrounds if you want to make a day and night of visiting the area. Indulge in some classic seaside fare with beer-battered fish and chips and a schooner of tap beer, or maybe get a little bit fancy with their seared tuna salade nicoise and freshly seared crab on sourdough.

Couple having a schooner each at the Wye Beach Hotel on the Great Ocean Road
Stop by the Wye Beach Hotel on your Great Ocean Road road trip.

5. Hotel Sorrento, Sorrento, VIC

Spending a long weekend escaping the city down on the Mornington Peninsula? Looking down on Port Phillip Bay, Hotel Sorrento has been entertaining Melbournians on a weekender since 1872, when it was founded. Today, its Dining Room serves up classic pub meals, as well as more diverse fare, like gooey burrata with juicy stone fruit or Cantonese cuisine at the Hong Kong sixties-style Shihuishi in what was once the hotel ballroom. If you’re all about those views, Salt, The Lawn and The Rooftop make up the property’s outdoor bars.

Girls having a wine and a laugh at the Hotel Sorrento
Enjoy some modern dishes at this historic pub.

6. Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads, QLD

Soak up that iridescent Gold Coast lifestyle at the Burleigh Pavilion. Whether you’re opting for the casual coastal pavilion experience munching on woodfired pizzas with views of the striking Gold Coast skyline and impeccable surf at the Pavilion itself, or doing Grey Goose vodka and caviar bumps at The Tropic restaurant, ‘The Pav’ aims to impress its clientele. Simply settle down into the Burleigh’s pastel-coloured ambience for your beachside lunch, and let the DJ spin the perfect soundtrack to your sunny afternoon.

Burleigh Pavilion with the beach in shot
Burleigh is a Gold Coast institution. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

7. The Moseley Beach Club, Glenelg, SA

Forget what you’ve heard: it’s not all about the vineyards in Adelaide. With crystal-clear waters and empty shores, its beaches are some of the state’s finest drops. Hop on the tram from the Adelaide CBD, and you’ll soon find yourself in Glenelg — one of SA’s most popular beaches — and The Moseley Beach Club. A Greek island-style beach club on the white sands of Glenelg in summer, The Moseley’s deck chairs, beach umbrellas and live music and DJs will soon have you begging to order one of their frozen Santorini Sunset cocktails. Yamas to that!

The Moseley Beach Club is a coastal pub in Glenelg South Australia
Nothing better than a summer afternoon at The Moseley. (Image: Nathan Godwin)

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8. The Darwin Ski Club, Fannie Bay, NT

No, there’s been no freak snow reported up in tropical Darwin (at least, not that we’ve heard). The Darwin Ski Club is actually named for the water skiing done here, so no peach schnapps just yet. But what you will find at this well-known Darwinian establishment is the Epikur restaurant bistro, serving up local Darwinian flavours, as well as live music at The Bali Bar overlooking the Darwin Harbour. This, plus the views over the Timor Sea, has made The Ski Club one of the most relaxing places in the capital to watch the sunset.

Sunset from Darwin Ski Club one of the best coastal pubs in Northern Territory
The sunset doesn’t get much better than this. (Image: Tourism Australia/Allan Dixon)

9. Crab Claw Island Resort, Bynoe, NT

If you have always been a fan of a quiet beer, look no further: one popular way to get to this extremely remote bar is actually by helicopter. The Crab Claw Island Resort in the Northern Territory is about 15 minutes by air or about 90 minutes by car from Darwin and makes for a beautiful location to get away from the incessant buzz of modern life for a few days. Try your hand at fishing, mud crabbing, turtle-spotting and other unique activities available at this coastal retreat, then take a breather at The Crab Claw bar and restaurant, down at the beach.

Men enjoying a beer at Crab Claw Island Resort coastal pub
Enjoy your beer in peace at Crab Claw Island Resort. (Image: Tourism NT/Helen Orr)

10. Indigo Oscar at Indiana Cottesloe Beach, Cottesloe Beach, WA

A special pop-up bar, the Indigo Oscar has taken over a space in the Indiana Cottesloe Beach ahead of renovations of the iconic beachside pavilion. Until then, this fresher-than-fresh eatery is giving the Perth beachside suburb a touch of Latin American-inspired vibrance with its stunning seafood dishes and smoky cocktails. Try out the avocado arepas, with zucchini pickles and green chilli, the swordfish ceviche and their classic margaritas, to fully lean into those South and Central American vibes.

Exterior of Indigo Oscar at Cottesloe Beach pub
This special pop-up bar is bringing the vibes to Cottesloe Beach.

11. The Story Bar at MACq 01 Hotel, Hobart, TAS

Down here for a long winter’s night, or booked in for a long lunch on a sun-drenched day? Either way, the Story Bar at MACq 01 Hotel is serving up those Port of Hobart views and a smokescreen of atmosphere to match. Whether it’s the sun or city lights that are twinkling on the water, the glamorous Hobart bar will pull you in with its display of memorabilia from Tasmania’s heritage, and the curiosity-inducing newspapers that line the walls, telling tales of the island state’s past. Shake it up — or at least ask the bartender to — with a visit to the hotel’s other drinking hole, the ancient artefact-themed Evolve Spirits Bar.

Couple having a drink at The Story Bar at MACq 01 Hotel in Hobart
The Story Bar at MACq 01 Hotel is serving up those Port of Hobart views.

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Kate Bettes
Kate Bettes is a freelance travel writer. Whether having a picnic in Vietnamese jungle with new friends, or partying in the back of a limousine in Hollywood, Kate’s experiences have left her with the sneaking suspicion that the best travel memories happen when you least expect. It’s this feeling - and how to get it - that she loves to write about.
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The perfect mid-week reset an hour from Melbourne

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
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    Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

    Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

    walking trails in the Yarra Valley
    You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

    A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

    holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy
    Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

    a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy
    A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

    I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

    Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

    Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate
    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

    As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate, I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

    oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate
    Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

    On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

    I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

    kangaroos in Yarra Valley
    Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

    the Yarra Valley vineyards
    Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

    Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

    COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

    It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

    A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

    legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway
    The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

    The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

    I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

    The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

    After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

    Playing there

    the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley
    Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art. Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

    Eating and drinking there

    Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

    seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station
    The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)